Replenishing mechanism for looms



Dec. 19, 1961 w. H. BANKS REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1959 INVENTOR. WALDO H. BANKS Dec. 19, 1961w. H. BANKS 3,013,586

REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e767 as .22 25 24' INVENTOR. WALDO H. BANKS.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,013,586 REKLENISHING MECHANISM FORLOOMS Waldo H. Banks, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation,Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed May 29, 1959, Ser. No.816,793 7 Claims. (Cl. 139-257) This invention relates to looms forweaving, and, in particular, to an automatic replenishing mechanism forremoving the tip or filling bunch from the end of a bobbin to betransferred to a shuttle and for controlling the filling end while theshuttle is picked and for disposing of that end as well as an end of thefilling of the exhausted outgoing bobbin.

It is a general object of the invention to provide simple and effectivemeans for removing the tip bunch from bobbins so equipped and forholding that bunch while the bobbin is transferred to a shuttle and theshuttle is picked and then, after the thread end has been severed by theselvage cutter, releasing the thread end for disposal in a pneumaticdevice at the same time disposing of the filling end of the exhausted,outgoing bobbin, all in timed sequence with the transfer parts of theloom.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a controlmechanism for removal of the tip bunch from bobbins whose operation isinitiated, upon indication of exhaustion of filling on the bobbin in ashuttle, by movement of the transfer parts which at the same timeactuate a timer mechanism which sets into operation a pneumatic meansfor a predetermined period of time whose function it is to withdraw thefilling end of the incoming bobbin until that end adjacent the selvageis severed by the temple cutter at which time that end is dischargedinto a waste receptacle, the pneumatic means at the same timeWithdrawing the filling end of the exhausted bobbin and disposing of itwhen it is released by the usual Stafford type cutter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an extractor meansfor removing the tip bunch from bobbins and which has associatedtherewith a clamping means which acts to retain the filling end or bunchfor one pick of the loom at which time the clamping means is releasedand the filling end is withdrawn into the pneumatic device.

It is a further object to provide a simple and regulatable timer devicefor controlling the duration of air application to the pneumatic device.

Other objects will become apparent from the following more detaileddisclosure.

One well known type of automatic battery for effecting transfer ofbobbins in fly shuttle looms employs bobbins having a finder or tipbunch wound on the end thereof. The purpose of such a bunch is to permitautomatically functioning, mechanical means to engage this bunch in apositive manner and to displace it outwardly over the end of the bobbinto be engaged by other means and to be held thereby for a period of timesufficient to permit the transfer to take place and also for the shuttleto make its initial pick through the warp so as to permit the filling tobecome interlocked in the fabric before the held end of the fillingthread is released. One such automatic battery is disclosed in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,566,880 employing a swinging, bunch removinginstrumentality including two opposed gripping members resiliently urgedtoward each other adapted to engage and remove the tip bunch from abobbin to be transferred to a shuttle, a picker for engaging the removedbunch and transferring it to a comb where it is held while the transfertakes place and ice until the hunch is subsequently displaced bysubsequent bunches. Movement of the gripping members and picker is takenfrom the transfer mechanism already present on the loom.

According to the invention, an improved mechanism has been devised foreffecting removal of the tip bunch wherein the bunch is removed from thebobbin end by an extractor means, then clamp-ed against the extract-oruntil transfer takes place and the shuttle is picked, and finally thefilling end is discharged into a waste receptacle by pneumatic meansafter it has been severed at the fabric edge by the usual temple cutter.The pneumatic device is adapted also to remove the filling end of theexhausted outgoing bobbin. At the same time a timer means is providedfor automatically opening a valve to permit entry of air to thepneumatic means at the proper instant for a predetermined period oftime. Both the extractor device and timer means are simultaneouslyactuated by a control mechanism operable upon movement of the starterrod of the loom.

The extractor is so constructed that the clamping means comes into playto retain the tip bunch as soon as the latter has been removed from thebobbin end. The clamping means is released when the extractor moves intoposition over the end of the next bobbin to be transferred after a onepick delay. Since the pneumatic device is actuated as soon as thestarter rod is moved into position, the filling end is withdrawn into asuction device as soon as it is released by the clamping means and isheld thereby until the thread is severed.

Air supply to the suction device is controlled by a time delay means,preferably a mercury switch which closes a circuit to open a normallyclosed solenoid valve for about ten or twelve picks, or until thefilling ends of both the incoming and outgoing bobbins have been severedby the temple cutter.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the replenishing mecha-v nism; I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the right side of the loomand showing the control mechanism for actuating the replenishingmechanism and also showing the mercury switch and solenoid valve;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the extractor looking toward the rightside of the loom;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the extractor;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the right hand side of the air timermeans'and its connecting mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the linkage system for theair timer means.

In FIG. 1 an automatic battery is designated by the arrow 10 at theright hand side of the loom through which replenishing bobbins progressto a transfer position as is occupied by the bobbin 11. 'From such aposition this bobbin is transferred to a shuttle when required.Exhaustion of filling on the bobbin in the shuttle is determined by theusual filling feeler which with other mechanism causes a starter rod 12(FIG. 2) to rock in a well known manner to set the loom for thereplenishing cycle.

One end of anextending arm 13 is fixed to the starter rod as seen inFIG. 2 and the opposite end thereof is connected to an adjustable rod 14threaded at both ends. A pair of bearings 15 are supported by an L-shaped bracket 16 which is fixed toahopper stand '17.

The latter is fastened above the right hand loomside. A stud 18 isoscillatable within the bearings 15. A hub 19 is fixed by means of a pinor other means to one end of the stud and has an outwardly extending arm20 co-extensive therewith. The free end of the arm is linked to theadjustable rod 14. A second hub 21 having an upwardly extending flatplate 22 is fixed to the stud 18 by means of set screws 23 which. alsopermit adjustment of that hub With respect to the stud so as to vary therest position of the plate. This position may also be adjusted byrotation of the threaded rod 14.

A self-aligning bearing 24 is set in an opening in the hopper stand inalignment with the upper end of plate 22. A rod 25 is supported by thebearing and one end thereof is spaced from the fiat plate as seen inFIG. 2. The other end of the rod is pivoted intermediate the ends of anactuating lever 26 wihch itself has one end pivoted at 27. The other endof the lever has a flattened free end portion 28.

An extractor, generally denoted by the arrow 29, is supported on a rod30 which is slidably mounted in a bearing 31 which may form an integralpart of the upper chute 32. A bracket 33 is fastened to the side of theupper chute and has an opening therein aligned with the opening in thebearing 31. The rod 30 may thus be reciprocated to the right or leftwhile supported slidably by the bearing 31 and bracket 33. The rod has acut-out portion 34 in its upper half including a shoulder 35 at rightangles to the axis of the rod. An L-shaped latch 36 is pivotally mountedat the intersection of its two arms to the bracket 33 and is biasedtoward rod 30 by a torsion spring (not shown), one of its arms 37extending substantially in a horizontal direction to engage the cut-out34 and shoulder 35, while its other arm 38 extends downwardly from thepivot point. The arm 38 is struck by an adjustment screw (not shown)fastened to the lay only when the extractor assembly is in a latchedposition. When unlatched the arm 38 is slightly forward of its latchedposition so that a slight clearance is maintained between the adjustmentscrew and the arm when the lay is in front center position. A second rod39 is fixed to the extractor at one end and its other end is slidable ina second opening in the bracket 33 so that both rods 30 and 39 are insubstantial vertical alignment. The rod 39 lines up the extractor partswith the end of the bobbin to be transferred. A spring 40 is fixed atone end to the hopper stand and at its other end to the top portion ofthe extractor so as to urge the latter to a bobbin engaging position tothe left.

It may now be seen that movement of the starter rod 12 in a clockwisedirection as seen in FIG. 2 Will raise the arm 22 to its dotted lineposition causing it to strike the rod 25 which pivots the actuatinglever 26 to the right causing the free end portion 28 to move the rod 30and thus the extractor and rod 39 to the right. The cut-out 34 moves asubstantial distance beyond the latch 36 and as the extractor isreturned to the left, the lay of the loom has started to move towardback center and the arm 37 is engaged by the shoulder 35. The usualfilling cam (not shown) delays return of the transfer rod to its restposition until the lay has started toward back center. The extractor isthereby held in withdrawn position until the arm 38 is struck by the layto release the latch, which takes place on the next pick. This one pickdelay permits the next bobbin to be transferred to drop into transferposition before the tip bunch extractor is permitted to return to theleft so that it engages the end of the bobbin in readiness to withdrawthat bobbins tip bunch upon the next call for transfer.

The tip bunch extractor and its clamping means are a novel combinationand are shown to enlarged scale in FIGS. 3 and 4. The extractor includesa pair of jaw members 41 and 42, the former being fixed and an integralpart of a base member 43, and the latter being pivoted on the basemember at 44. The fixed jaw is cut away in part at its lower end so asto permit the filling thread to pass freely out of the opening 44'defined by the jaws after the tip bunch 45 has been removed from itsbobbin. A torsion spring 46 urges the movable jaw toward the fixed oneand is held in position by a retaining element 47. The opening 44 iscone shaped as seen in FIG. 4 so as to permit ready passage of a bobbinend thereinto. The pressure exerted by the spring 46 is such as a resultin a firm sliding contact between the jaws and the bobbin end. A rubberstop 48 positions the extractor over the bobbin end by its abutment withthe bearing 31. On the opposite side of the base members 43 is a rubberbumper 49 which prevents overthrow movement of the extractor by strikingagainst the bracket 33. D

To the right side of the extractor jaws is a clamping device whichcooperates therewith and includes a pair of side members 50 and 51pivoted at 52 and connected at their lower end by a flat plate member 53which is biased toward the right hand side of the jaw members by atorsion spring 54. A short extension 55 is welded or otherwise attachedto the lower end of the plate member as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The mechanism for withdrawing the filling end and disposing of it oncethe filling bunch has been removed from its bobbin end will now bedescribed. For this purpose a pneumatic device is utilized whichincludes a venturi 56 which may be identical to that shown in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,872,943. A conduit 57 introduces air from somesuitable external source to the venturi. A suction tube 53 is fastenedto the side of the bobbin chute 32 so that the inlet end of the tube islocated immediately rearwardly of the filling path which is assumed bythe extracted bunch. A similar tube 59 is provided for receiving thefilling end of the exhausted, outgoing bobbin and has one end thereofadjacent the usual Stafford cutter of the loom while its other end alsoextends into the venturi.

In order to control the air supply to the venturi so that air is drawnonly when necessary, a solenoid valve 60 of conventional design isplaced in the air inlet line 57 as shown in FIG. 2. This valve is of thetype which is normally closed so that it opens when current is ap pliedacross its leads. The valve is grounded to the loom at 61 and a secondlead therefrom is connected to a time delay mercury switch 62 enclosedwithin a casing 63. Power is supplied to the circuit through the OB.switch of the loom. The casing 63 is pivoted at 64 on a bracket 65 whichis fixed to the hopper stand and is biased by a torsion spring 66 in thedirection of a stop screw 67 mounted on one portion 68 of the bifurcatedend of the bracket 65 and which controls the atrest position of thecasing. A second stop screw 67' is threaded on the other end portion 63and prevents overthrow of the casing when pivoted. The position of thecasing as shown in FIG. 5 is the normal or at-rest position. Adjacentthe hub 21 (as seen in FIG. 2) a further hub 69 is fixed to the stud 13and has an arm 70 extending horizontally therefrom toward the hopperstand. The other end of the arm is pivoted to one end of an actuatinglever 71 which is slotted at 72 to receive a pin 73 fixed to the righthand side of the casing 63. The mercury switch is a conventional one andmay be of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,849,550.

A fiat plate 74 is fixed to a hub 75 on the transfer stud 76 so as tooverlap the extension 55. A hooked member 77 is attached to the side ofthe bobbin chute adjacent the tube 58 to guide the filling threadthereinto.

The operation of the device will now be described. Upon indication oflack of filling on a bobbin in a shuttle by the usual feeler mechanism,the starter rod 12 is caused to turn slightly in known manner to set upthe parts for transfer. At the same time the arm 13 is raised to movethe arm 22 to the dotted line position of FIG. 2. The separation of theplate 22 and rod 25 provides lost motion to allow the transfer parts tostart their movement before contacting the ejector parts, thereby movingthe extractor assembly toward the right side of the loom, removing thetip bunch 45 from the end of the bobbin. As this occurs, the plate 53 ofthe clamping means, which is normally held out away from the jaws due toabutment of the plate 74 with the extension 55 of the clamping means, iscaused to be released to press against the right side of the jaws and tohold the extracted bunch in a positive manner thereagainst. As the rod30 thus reaches the limit of its movement to the right and begins toreturn toward the left side of the loom, it is latched in place due toengagement of the shoulder 35 by the arm 37 as explained above, and inwhich position it is held until the next forward movement of the lay, atwhich time the extractor jaws move into position over the end of thenext bobbin and at this time also, the clamping means is held out awayfrom the jaws by the plate 74 causing a release of the filling threadend of the bobbin now in the shuttle which is then withdrawn into thesuction tube 58 in proximity to which the filling thread is held by ahook 77 from the time the tip hunch is removed from the bobbin.

Movement of the stud 18 also trips the mercury switch to close thecircuit, due to tilting of the casing 63 by downward pull of the pin 73by the lever 71. As soon as the transfer rod 12 returns to its restposition, the casing 63 also is returned to its normal position by thetorsion spring 66. The closing of the circuit opens the solenoid switchto permit air to be delivered to the venturi, which sets up suction intubes 58 and 59. As the bunch from the bobbin transferred into theshuttle -is reduced by the clamping means, it is withdrawn intothe tube58 where it is held until its end adjacent the selvage is cut by thetemple cutter at which time this filling end is free to be dischargedinto a waste receptacle. As the filling end of the exhausted outgoingbobbin is cut at the selvage, it, too, is withdrawn through the tube 59but is retained therein until it is released by the Stafford cutter andbinder at the next transfer cycle.

The delay period in the mercury switch permits air to be supplied to theventuri at least until the filling threads of both the incoming andoutgoing bobbins have been cut by the temple cutter so that they may bewith drawn into their respective suction tubes. The provision of a slotin the lever 71 permits manual operation of the switch to permit air tobe applied to the venturi should the loom stop shortly after transferand before the filling ends have been cleared. The time delay period ofthe switch can be varied slightly by adjustment of the stop screws 67and 67' or a switch with a different delay period may be used, ifdesired.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom for weaving having a bobbin feeding means for retaining andpresenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins havingfilling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tipbunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for moving the leading oneof said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment,a combined means for removing the bunch from bobbin ends and retainingthe filling end while the shuttle is picked which comprises a fillingbunch extractor having a generally circular opening therein adapted tomaintain a firm sliding contact along the major portion of thecircumference of said bobbin end during removal of said filling bunch,and a clamping means including a pivoted member adapted to hold saidbunch against said extractor after its removal from. said bobbin end.

2 In a loom for weaving having a bobbin feeding means for retaining andpresentingfor transfer to a loom shuttle a supply of bobbins havingfilling wound thereon an end of which is wound in the form of a tipbunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for moving the leading oneof said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call for replenishment,a combined means for removing the bunch from bobbin ends and retainingthe filling end while the shuttle is picked which comprises a fillingbunch extractor having a generally circular opening therein adapted tomaintain a firm sliding contact along the major portion of thecircumference of said bobbin end during removal of said filling bunch,and a clamping means including a pivoted member adapted to hold saidbunch against said extractor after its removal from said bobbin end, anda suction device for withdrawing said bunch after its release by saidclamping means.

3. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means forretaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply ofbobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in theform of a tip bunch adjacent the bob-bin end, transfer means for movingthe leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call forreplenishment, extractor means for engaging and pulling the tip bunchfrom the bobbin being transferred to the shuttle, pivoted clamping meansfor holding said bunch while said shuttle is picked, pneumatic means forwithdrawing said bunch after its release by said clamping means, andcontrol means for said pneumatic means which comprises a valve openedcoinciden tally with a movement into action of said transfer means, anda timer means for controlling said valve for a predetermined interval.

4. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means forretaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply ofbobbins having filling wound thereon and end of which is wound in theform of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, transfer means for movingthe leading one of said supply of bobbins into the shuttle upon call forreplenishment, extractor means for engaging and pulling the tip bunchfrom the bobbin being transferred to the shuttle, pivoted clamping meanscooperating with said extractor means for holding said bunch while saidshuttle is picked, pneumatic means for withdrawing said bunch after itsrelease by said clamping means, and control means for said pneumaticmeans which comprises a solenoid valve opened coincidentally with amovement into action of said transfer means, and a time delay mercuryswitch means for controlling said valve for a predetermined interval.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said extractor means comprises apair of bunch engaging jaws at least one of which is movable withrespect to the other, spring means biasing said jaws toward each other,said clamping means including a pivoted plate adapted to pinch saidbunch against said jaws after said bunch is removed from said bobbin.

6. A filling bunch extractor for removing the filling bunch from the endof a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle and for retaining saidfilling bunch while the shuttle is picked which comprises a pair ofspring biased jaw members adapted to maintain a firm sliding contactalong the major portion of the circumference of said bobbin end duringremoval of said filling bunch, and clamping means adapted to hold saidbunch against said jaws after its removal from said bobbin end.

7. A filling bunch extractor for removing the filling bunch from the endof a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle and for retaining saidfilling bunch while the shut tle is picked which comprisesa pair ofbunch engaging jaws defining an opening therebetween, at least one ofsaid jaws being movable with respect to the other to vary the size ofthat opening, spring means for biasing said jaws toward each other, andclamping means including a 3,013,586 7 pivoted member adapted to holdsaid bunch against said 2,566,880 jaws after its removal from saidbobbin end. 2,892,470

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5731,354

1,060,831 Ehnendorf May 6, 1913 1,142,569 Koechlin June 8, 1915 8 Fisetet a1. 2- Sept, 4, 1951 Cornelinsson et a1 June 30, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTSGreat Britain June 8, 1955

